Ezekiel 8 16

Ezekiel 8:16 kjv

And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

Ezekiel 8:16 nkjv

So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.

Ezekiel 8:16 niv

He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.

Ezekiel 8:16 esv

And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.

Ezekiel 8:16 nlt

Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the LORD's Temple. At the entrance to the sanctuary, between the entry room and the bronze altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs to the sanctuary of the LORD. They were facing east, bowing low to the ground, worshiping the sun!

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 16 Meaning

The verse describes the final action of the men within the temple's inner court, performing a significant act of worship. They faced East, towards the rising sun, indicating a departure from true worship. The term "tabernacle of the LORD" refers to the most sacred place, the Holy of Holies. The imagery suggests they were engaged in sun worship, a practice condemned in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 8 16 Context

This verse is situated within Ezekiel chapter 8, where the prophet is given a visionary tour of the Jerusalem temple. He witnesses a series of horrific acts of idolatry and perversion occurring within its sacred precincts. These acts reveal the deep corruption and spiritual decay that led to God's judgment and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The preceding verses describe the horrifying scenes of animal imagery carved on temple walls and the "seventy elders" offering incense before them. This verse focuses on a distinct group engaged in sun worship, highlighting the pervasive nature of apostasy. The vision occurs in the sixth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, a period when Jerusalem was under siege.

Ezekiel 8 16 Word Analysis

• And: Connects this action to the preceding scene.
• He: Refers to the man leading the procession, specifically identified as "the son of man" (Ezekiel).
• Brought: Indicates a deliberate act of bringing or leading.
• Me: Refers to Ezekiel, the prophet.
• Into: Signifies entry into a specific location.
• The inner court: Denotes the second courtyard of the temple, closer to the Holy of Holies, thus a place of greater sanctity and where these abominations were even more shocking.
• Of: Shows possession or relation.
• The house: Refers to the Temple itself.
• Of the LORD: Identifies the Temple as belonging to Yahweh.
• And behold: An interjection to draw attention to something significant and astonishing.
• At the door: Indicates a location within the temple complex.
• Of the temple: Specifically the Temple building.
• Of the LORD: Again, emphasizing the sacred nature of the place.
• Between: Positions the men in a specific area.
• The porch: Refers to the area before the main entrance to the Holy Place.
• And: Connects the two locations.
• The altar: The altar of burnt offering, the center of sacrificial worship.
• Were: Indicates the state of being of the men.
• About: Suggests their proximity.
• Five: A specific number, possibly signifying a group or delegation.
• And: Links the number to the description of the men.
• Men: The subjects performing the action.
• With: Indicates accompaniment.
• Their: Possessive pronoun.
• Backs: The part facing away from the object of their devotion.
• Toward: Indicates direction.
• The east: The direction of the rising sun, significant for pagan worship.
• And: Connects their position to their action.
• They: Refers back to the men.
• Worshipped: The act of adoration or reverence.
• The sun: The celestial body being venerated, a clear sign of idolatry.
• Toward: Reinforces the direction of worship.
• The east: The direction of the rising sun.

Group Analysis:The phrase "inner court of the house of the LORD" emphasizes the extreme profanity of the act, as this was a sacred space. "Between the porch and the altar" pinpoints a location associated with God's presence and prescribed worship, making the desecration all the more severe. "With their backs toward the east and they worshipped the sun toward the east" creates a powerful visual contrast: they faced away from the inner sanctum of God (represented by the temple) and towards a created object (the sun), highlighting their complete apostasy and perversion of true worship.

Ezekiel 8 16 Bonus Section

This practice of sun worship was not unique to this period or place; it was a recurring temptation throughout Israel's history. Deuteronomy 4:19 specifically warns against lifting up eyes to the heavens and worshipping the sun and the moon, equating it with serving "the host of heaven." The placement of the men between the porch and the altar highlights their deliberate choice to reject the legitimate place of God's dwelling and the divinely appointed means of approach to Him. This verse, in its stark depiction, can be seen as an indictment of any form of worship that substitutes created things for the Creator or deviates from God's revealed will, emphasizing that true worship is interior and directed towards the invisible God in spirit and truth.

Ezekiel 8 16 Commentary

Ezekiel's vision reveals a profound betrayal of God within His own dwelling place. The act of worshipping the sun eastward is a direct repudiation of Yahweh, the Creator. This ritual is not a minor offense but a deep-seated corruption of the core covenant relationship. The direction "east" was commonly associated with pagan deities and the generative powers of nature, contrasting sharply with the biblical emphasis on God's presence in the West, where the Shekinah glory was said to dwell in the temple. This scene underscores the severity of sin when it occurs in the context of religious practice, where the outward forms of worship are maintained but the inward allegiance is directed elsewhere. The vision serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual infidelity.